Death's Charmer // Sope

1

The two paranormal investigators were close to losing their jobs thanks to Hoseok.

"So you're telling me-" The director stood behind both of his employees, tone scarily calm. "That you spent all night in that house and gathered nothing?"

The brunet weakly raised a finger. "Does dust particles count cuz-" His boss slammed his hand on his desk. "A-actually, yeah. No— nevermind. We gathered nothing." The poor investigator nervously stuttered out.

Namjoon squeezed his eyes shut, wishing that his friend would learn to keep his mouth shut.

"Mr.Wang, it was my fault. Namjoon didn't do anything wrong-"

"What do you mean he 'didn't do anything wrong'?!" The man yelled, gesturing toward the taller employee. "He broke another one of our temperature detectors!" Mr.Wang reached behind his desk, holding up the shattered equipment that Namjoon dropped on the way back.

"I'm sorry, sir." The pink head apologized, keeping his head down.

"What am I gonna do with you two?" Mr.Wang pinched the bridge of his nose, fingers slightly lifting his thick glasses. "Get out of my office before I consider firing the both of you."

The duo took a quick glance at each other before walking out in shame.

"Coward."

"Clumsy."

"Wimp."

"Discombobulated bitch."

Hoseok and Namjoon continued on with throwing insults toward one another, sitting on the curb outside of their show's studio.

"Chicken bitch." The taller mumbled, kicking a pebble against the tire of a random employee's parked car.

"Understandable." The brunet sighed before looking at his despairing friend. "You think we're gonna get fired?"

"Not sure." Namjoon frowned, meeting the older's eyes. "We keep fucking up, Seok. This is the second time you've bailed on an investigation and the third time I've broken an equipment just this week."

Hoseok shrugged. "Better than last week."

"Not the point, dumbass." The pink-haired younger laid his forehead on his knees. "We needa start improving ourselves if we wanna keep our jobs. I can't afford to go home with extra bills to pay just because I accidentally dropped a headset while using the toilet again."

"Can't believe Jimin hasn't left your sorry ass yet." The older snickered.

"At least I have someone. Look at you, probably flirting with your own apartment's ghosts—"

"STOP TRYING TO SCARE ME! I DON'T HAVE APARTMENT GHOSTS." Hoseok freaked out, punching his friend's arm who only laughed at the expected response.

"I don't get why you even agreed to this job."

"It pays a lot."

"Why can't you find a well-paying job that you can actually do?" Namjoon rolled his eyes.

"I can do this job. Just need a little more experience and I'm set." The older defended. "And speak for yourself, Kim. Find a job that doesn't involve handling breakable things."

The pink head looked extremely offended. "I have sweaty palms!"

"Whatever." Hoseok rolled his eyes.

They sat in petty silence before Namjoon's phone rang. He fished the device out of his cargo pants and fought off a smile when his boyfriend's name popped on the screen.

"Hey, Minie." The male greeted lovingly, his best friend turning away and mimicking his words with a scowl. "Work's horrible as always. Hoseok and I just got out... mhm... okay, I'll be home soon. Love you." Then the call ended.

The younger sighed happily, turning to the shorter male. "You wanna have dinner at my house? Jimin made his usual chicken alfredo pasta."

"We're mad at each other right now. You're not supposed to offer me food." Hoseok reminded with squinted eyes.

"Doesn't mean I'm just gonna let you starve." Namjoon scoffed. "So you coming?"

The brunet slouched defeatedly, watching his friend stand up and offer his hand. Hoseok took it but shook his head as a response to the other's question. "I would but I've got plans."

"Since when do you make plans?" The younger raised a brow while they both dusted their bums off of gravel caught from the cement.

"Since now."

"What's your plans?"

"Don't be nosy, Joon."

"Fine." Namjoon pouted before they bid their goodbyes and headed to their separate locations in mind.

Hoseok gulped.

Before him stood the same abandoned house that him and Namjoon were sent to last night.

He had come to an ugly realization that these supposed "haunted" houses looked a lot more terrifying when he's alone.

After his little conversation with his co-worker, he decided that the best way to get over his fears and to do better in his job was to go scouting for more show material himself. He snuck back into their studio and grabbed one of each equipment that they used for paranormal investigations. Of course, he would be one with the ghosts if his boss found out about it but there was no going back now.

With a deep breath, the brunet secured his backpack straps and twisted the brassy, metal knob. The peeling oak door slowly creaked open without the need of the male's force. Hoseok shivered, convincing himself that it was somehow the wind during such a breezeless night. The place felt colder than the outside world just from the first step through the doorway.

By the looks of it, nothing seemed out of place from the last time they visited. The couches and tables were still covered by huge clothes while the vases made a sport out of collecting dust— the picture-less frames also wanted to join in.

Hoseok frowned, not sure if he should be thankful for the generous lighting the moon offered through the window or uneasy because it only added to the room's eerie nature.

He decided that it was probably the right time to start setting up his equipment if he wanted to catch anything on recording tonight.

Through the paranormal investigator's unpacking, he didn't notice the pair of eyes watching his every move.